Ribbon mechanism for cartridge supported ribbons

ABSTRACT

A ribbon mechanism for cartridge supported ribbons includes a gear train which is clutch operated in response to typing actuations and which provides incremental rotation to two independent cartridge-type ribbon driving means for feeding a ribbon past the machine print point. The two independent driving means are coaxially mounted and are driven in opposite directions thus accomplishing both a feed means and a takeup means for either a cartridge having an endless ribbon system supported therein or a cartridge having a two spool ribbon system support therein.

[ Feb.22,1972

United States Patent Anderson et a1.

2,900,067 8/1959 England.................................197/15l2,972,402 2/1961 Howard 197/165 3,325,111 6/1967Prager...........................,.......242/197 154] RIBBON MECHANHSMFOR CARTRIDGE SUPPORTED RIBBONS [72] lnventors:

55 11 77 99 m m fiuu 00 CG 77 66 99 11 l/ 00 ll 07 98 69 44 33 Carl 1.Anderson, Homer; Charles H. Kennedy, Ithaca; Donald S. Perry,Fayetteville, all of NY.

3,356,202 12/1967 3,395,871 8/1968 Ackermann et a1. 3,152,678 10/1964[73] Assignee: SCM Corporation, New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Dec. 14, 1970Hunt......................................197/151 PrimaryExaminer-Robert E. Pulfrey [21] Appl. No.: 98,145

Assistant ExaminerStephen C. Pellegrino Related US. Application Data[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 732,343, May 27,

Attorney-Carlos Nieves, Milton Wolson and Harvey Zeller ABSTRACTabandoned.

A ribbon mechanism for cartridge supported ribbons includes a gear trainwhich is clutch operated in response to typing ac- 74 0 n l/ 2 1 1 W 8 99 I HI 9 7 H 0 9 w n1,/ 9 M l 36 a .11., 1 Y M w M w 7 9 72 1 96 511 H 3u U 0 n 1 "6 m u m n m m n c u r a u e S 1 LM d 5 Ld U .mm 1 .11 2 18 555 1 [1.

means for either a cartridge having an endless ribbon system supportedtherein or a cartridge having a two spool ribbon system support therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 785,709 3/1905Burridge...................,............197/168 2,883,029 4/1959Gray....................................,.197/16224Claims,9DrawingFigures PATENTEDFEB 22 I972 SHEET 1 OF 4 INVENTORSDERSON CARL F. AN

CHARLES H. KENNEDY BY DONALD S. PERRY WAM AGENT PATENTEDFEHZZ m2 SHEEY 2OF G INVENTORS CARL F? ANDERSON CHARLES H. KENNEDY Y DONALD S. PERRYPATENTEBFEBZZ I972 3.643.779

SHEET 3 OF 4 INVENTORS CARL F. ANDERSON CHARLES H. KENNEDY BY DONALD S.PERRY AGENT PATENTE0FEB22 I972 SHEET a [1F 4 INVENTORS CARL P ANDERSONCHARLES H. KENNEDY BY DONALD S. PERRY Lu W AGENT RIBBON MECHANISM FORCARTRIDGE SUPPORTED RIBBONS This is a continuation of application Ser.No. 732,343, filed /27/68, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to ribbon feedingmechanisms for typewriters or like machines and more particularly tothose types which employ the single unit, nonseparable removabletyperibbon cartridge.

The art for typewriter ribbon feed mechanisms over the years has beendetermined by the types of ribbon and their degree of usability. Forexample, the reusable fabric ribbon dictates use of a ribbon feedmechanism capable of having a reversible drive means in order to realizethe full advantage of the degree of ribbon usability. On the other hand,the carbon nonreusable-type ribbon dictates use of a feed mechanismwhich is capable of metering the ribbon feed so as to use as much of theribbon area as is possible during its single pass past the printingpoint.

Well-known advances have been made in recent years with respect topackaging these types of ribbons into cartridges for heater and quickerinstallation purposes. However, these cartridges aided only ininstalling the ribbon into the machine vibrator and did not require anychange in the feed mechanism employed.

More recently, the ribbon cartridge art has experienced an advancewherein the cartridge carries its own vibrator arm and provides ahousing from which the ribbon is both supplied and taken up. This newertype of ribbon cartridge need only be installed into an appropriatesupport on the typewriter to be ready for operation, thus virtuallyeliminating ribbon handling in typewriters and like business machines.This new type of cartridge may be equipped with either an endles-typeribbon or a two spool, supply and takeup-type, ribbon. The fabric-typeribbon is provided in an endless-type cartridge and the carbon ribbon isprovided in a two spool-type cartridge as will be seen shortly. Theribbon feed mechanism need not necessarily provide a reversing mechanismbut it must be applicable to feed either type of cartridge equippedribbon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the main object of this invention toprovide a ribbon feed mechanism capable of feeding either a two spoolcarbon ribbon supported in a cartridge or a single spool endless fabricribbon supported in a cartridge. This object is accomplished byproviding two separate coaxially mounted drive means, which drive inopposite directions and are arranged to automatically cooperate with theappropriate mechanism of either type of cartridge when the cartridge isinstalled in the machine.

The above mentioned and other objects of this invention will becomeapparent by reference to the following description in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a right front perspective view ofthe invention assem bled to the right side frame ofa ribbon cartridgeequipped typewriter, one of the clutches of the novel mechanism shownexploded;

FIG. 2 is a left front perspective view of the two coaxially mountedfeeding means and the means by which their opposite rotative directionis achieved, a clutch of which is shown exploded;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the feeding means taken along line 33 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of one of the supporting blocks for thefeeding means;

FIG. 5 is a bottom left perspective view of the typewriter ribboncartridge support shown with a cartridge installed therein;

FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view of the cartridge and support;

FIG. 7 is atop plan view of the cartridge ejecting finger;

FIG. 8 is a right front exploded perspective view of an endless fabricribbon supported in a cartridge; and

FIG. 9 is a right front exploded perspective view of a two spool carbonribbon system supported in a cartridge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The novel mechanism in generalis comprised ofa vertically mounted shaft having two sets of pivotallymounted gear driving means which are incrementally driven in oppositedirections thru a clutch actuated gear train in response to typingactions. One set of gear driving means on the shaft is drivenfrictionally while the other set is driven positively. The frictionallydriven set provides the driving means for ribbon takeup whereas thepositively driven set provides the driving means for the ribbon feed.The frictionally driven gear set is designed to be freely driven througha greater angle of rotation than is the positively driven gear set toprovide a means for taking up all the ribbon which has been fed thusinsuring tautness ofthe ribbon at all times.

More specifically and with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the novelmechanism is shown assembled to the right side frame 10 of a poweroperated typewriter having a movable platen carriage 12, a print point14 and a plurality of key-actuating mechanisms 16 which, whenselectively engaged with a motor driven power roll 18, effectacceleration of one of a plurality of conventional typebars (not shown)to the print point I4 to thereby effect a printing operation.

Each key actuator 20 effects a clockwise pivoting motion of a pivotallymounted bail 22 during its operative stroke. The power roll shaft 24 ispivotally mounted at its ends in a pair of intermediate side frames 26(one of which is shown) and is conventionally motor driven at its leftend for continuous clockwise rotation while its right end projectsthrough a large opening 28 in the right side frame 10. A clutch 30 ispivotally mounted near the right end of the shaft 24 near a rigidlymounted gear 32 and comprises three main parts: a clutch plate 34 whichhas rigidly mounted gear 36 on its right face, a latch plate 38 which ispivotally mounted on a hub of the clutch plate 34, and a pawl 40 whichis pivotally mounted on a rigid clutch plate pin 42 and is operativelyengaged with the latch plate 38 by a pin and slot arrangement 44. Thelatch plate 38 is biased clockwise by a tension spring 46 interconnectedbetween a clutch plate pin 48 and a latch plate hole 50. The pawl 40 isretained on the clutch plate pin 42 by means of a washer 55 which isplaced onto the pin 42 before the left end of the pin 42 is headed over.

The pin and slot arrangement 44 between the pawl 40 and the latch plate38 is such that when the clutch 30 is assembled and retained on theshaft 24 by a rigidly mounted collar 53, and when the latch plate 38 ispivoted clockwise with respect to the clutch plate 34, the pawl 40 ispivoted clockwise about pin 42 whereupon a pawl tooth engaging nose 52is moved substantially in a radial direction into engagement with theteeth of the constantly rotating gear 32. On the other hand, if thelatch plate 38 is moved counterclockwise with respect to the clutchplate 34, the pawl 40 will pivot counterclockwise about the pin 42 andout of engagement from the shaft gear 32.

The latch plate 38 is normally held from any clockwise rotation by afinger 54 which contacts any one of three latch plate projections 56while the clutch plate 34 is constantly urged in a clockwise directionby the clockwise motion of the shaft 24 as the clutch plate 34 pivotallybears on the shaft 24. The clutch plate 34 is insured againstcounterclockwise movement by a plastic member 58 which is rigidlymounted on the side frame 10 by a screw 60 and has a finger 61 whichcooperates with one of three notches 62 in the clutch plate periphery.The plastic member 58 is ofa resilient material whereby the finger 61may be deflected by the clutch periphery during rotation of the clutchplate 34 and will snap into the next approaching notch 62. The latchplate holding finger 54 is constructed to arrest one of the latch plateprojections 56 just prior to when the plastic finger 61 snaps into oneof the clutch plate notches 62. This provides yielding of the pawlspring 46 and causes the pawl 40 to be limited radially outward by thecamming action of the pin and slot arrangement 44 to insure the normaldisengagement of the clutch 30.

The latch plate holding finger 54 is pivotally mounted on a frame rigidscrew 64 and is normally biased clockwise by a tension spring 66 in aholding position. The latching finger 54 has a lower extension 68 whichabuts the side frame lower lip '70 for limiting its holding position asshown while a formed finger 72 on the left end of the latch finger 54lies in the path of the lower extension 74 of the key actuated bail 22.Each time the bail 22 is oscillated by a key action 16, the clutch isengaged with the power roll shaft 24 by releasing of latch plate 38 andthe engagement of the pawl with the gear 32 for one-thirda revolutionwhereupon the latch finger 54 arrests the next latch plate projection 56and effects disengagement of the pawl 40 from the gear 32. Thus clutch30 provides incremental driving movements from a continuously rotatingpower roll 18.

The clutch plate gear 36 meshes with the first gear 76 of a gear train78 and transmits the incremental rotative motion in response to each keyactuation, through an idler gear 80 to a large gear 82. The large gear82 (FIG. 2) is rigidly mounted on a shaft 84 by a set screw 85 and has arigid pin 86 on its inner surface upon which a pair of friction padretaining members 88 are pivotally mounted. Members 88 are biasedradially inward about their pivot by a spring 90 interconnected betweentheir free ends which in turn applies a like force to a pair of frictionpads 92 each of which is disposed between the inner surfaces of themembers 88 and a large hub 94 ofa bevel gear 96. The large bevel gear 96is pivotally mounted on the shaft 84 while a small bevel gear 98 isrigidly mounted near the left end of the shaft 84.

The incremental clockwise motion delivered by clutch 30 to the largegear 82 is therefore transmitted positively to the small bevel gear 98and frictionally to the large bevel gear 96.

The cartridge ribbon feeding means 100 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is comprised ofashaft 101 which is vertically mounted within a pair of supports 102 and104. The lower support 102 is rigidly mounted to the side frame 10 whilethe upper support 104 is slideably mounted on the frame 10 for limitedhorizontal movement by means of a support extension 106 which extendsthrough a side frame slot 108 and has a pin 110 (FIG. 1) securedtherethrough on the outside of the frame 10. A horizontally supportedcompression spring 112 is supported at its forward end by a frame rigidpin (not shown) and extends into a blind hole 127 in the upper support104 for normally limiting the shaft 101 in the position shown with theupper support 104 limited against the rear wall of the side frame slot108.

At each end of the shaft 101 is a rigidly mounted gear 114 and 116. Thelower gear 114 is a bevel gear and is mounted on the shaft 101 by meansof a set screw 118 while the upper gear 116 is a spur gear and ismounted on the shaft 101 by means of a press fit. In addition, a rubberfriction roll 117 is press fit onto the hub 1160 of the shaft rigid gear116. Intermediate these two rigidly mounted gears 114 and 116 is apivotally mounted metal bushing 120 which also has near its ends a pairof rigidly mounted gears 122 and 124. The lower gear 122 is a bevel gearand is mounted on the bushing 120 by means of a set screw 126 while theupper gear 124 is a spur gear and is mounted on the bushing 120 by meansofa press fit. The lower bushing supported gear 122 has a long downwardextending hub 128 which rests upon the lower support 102 for supportingthe bushing mounted gears 122 and 124. The main shaft 101 is in turnsupported against gravity by virture of the upper gear 116 resting onthe hub extension 130 on the bushing mounted upper gear 124.

Support 102 is equipped with a pair of slightly elongated holes 130(FIG. 4) which extend inwardly from opposite top and bottom faces 132and 134 respectively of the appropriate support 102 (FIG. 4) and areslightly offset with respect to one another. The arrangement provides anormal vertical support for the shaft 101 and also allows clearance forforward tilting 135 of the shaft 101 within the support against theaction of the compression of spring 112 (FIG. 2) during a cartridge 142installation.

Support 104 is also equipped with a pair of holes 1040 (FIG. 3) whichare slightly offset with respect to one another. The arrangementprovides a vertical support for bushing 120 and allows clearance forforward tilting of the bushing 120, which is on shaft 101, duringcartridge .142 installation.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the left end of the horizontal shaft 84extends beyond its rigidly mounted small bevel gear 98 so as topivotally bear within a suitable hole in the right face of the lowersupport 102. The horizontal shaft small rigid bevel gear 98 is thereforebrought into mesh with the vertical main shaft lower bevel gear 114while the large frictionally driven bevel gear 96 is brought into meshwith the bushing rigid lower gear 122.

As the pair of horizontally supported gears 96 and 98 are incrementallyrotated clockwise (FIG. 2), the vertically sup ported gears 122 and 114are therefore driven in opposite directions wherein gear 122 is movedclockwise and gear 114 is moved counterclockwise. The gears 122 and 114in turn transmit their motion to their cooperating spur gears 124 and116 respectively.

Referring to FIG. 5, a cartridge guide support 136 is rigidly mounted onthe side frame 10 by a pair of screws 138 and has a large horizontalplatform 140 upon which the cartridge 142 is supported when installed inthe machine. A lever 144 is pivotally mounted on the under side of theplatform 140 by means ofa shoulder screw 146 and is normally biasedcounterclockwise by a spring 148. The lever 144 has at its left end, anupward extending finger 150 for abutting the sidewall 179 of aprojection 152 molded on the under side of the cartridge 142 forproviding a rest position limit for the cartridge 142 and retaining thecartridge 142 in the installed position. A lip 154 which runs along thebottom rear edge of the cartridge is provided for mating with a likegroove 156 (FIG. 6) molded in an upstanding rear wall 158 of the support136. This insures proper guidance ofthe cartridge 142 duringinstallation.

An arm 160 (FIGS. 1 and 7) is pivotally mounted in a I} shaped bracket162 and is heavily biased clockwise by a tension spring 164interconnected between a forward extending finger 166 of arm 160 and aframe member (not shown). The bracket 162 is pivotally mounted on aframe rigid post 168 while another frame rigid post 170 acts to limitthe arm 160 in its normal inoperative position as shown in FIG. 7.

When the cartridge 142 is installed in the support 136 from right toleft, the housing wall 171 contacts the arm 160 as shown and pivots thearm counterclockwise about its pivot 172 against the action of spring164. When the forward end 174 of the arm 160 has moved to the positionshown in hidden lines 176, it comes into contact with an interferringportion 178 of the housing wall. Further movement of the cartridge 142now effects a counterclockwise pivoting of the bracket 162 about post168 to provide a rearward biasing effect on the cartridge 142 thusinsuring contact between the cartridge rear lid 154 and its cooperatingguide support groove 156 (FIG. 6) during the remainder oftheinstallation.

As the cartridge 142 nears its installed position, the lever finger 150(FIG. 5) is cammed along the sidewall 179 of the cartridge moldedprojection 152 and snaps into its cartridge latching position as shown.During the installation, when the lever 144 is cammed clockwise from afirst position to a second position, a solid link 180, which is rigidlyconnected to the lever 144 and loosely guided into an opening 181 (FIG.3) in the upper support 104, effects the aforementioned forward tiltingof the feeding means 100 against the action of the compression on spring112. This action displaces the feeding means 100 from an effectiveposition to an ineffective position and thereby insures againstengagement of the feeding gears 116 and 124 with the cooperating gears210 and 224 of the modified cartridges 142a and 142b, herein afterdescribed, until a cartridge has fully reached its installed position.

A vibrator mechanism 182 (FIG. 1). which oscillates up and down inresponse to typing actuations by conventional means, is guided by a typeguide 184 and has a U-shaped guide 186 into which a mating finger 188(FIG. 5) ofa cartridge arm 190 is located during the cartridge 142installation. The arm 190 which carries the ribbon 192 from within thecartridge to a location adjacent the print point 14, is pivotallymounted on the cartridge 142 so that an exposed portion 194 of theribbon is lifted to the print point by the vibrator mechanism 182 inresponse to a key action 16 thereby effecting a printing operatron.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a fabric endless loop type ribbon 192 supportedin the cartridge 142a is shown. A cartridge arm 196 is pivotally mountedon the cartridge rear wall 198 by a rivet 200. The cartridge 142a has aseparator plate 204 for providing the cartridge 142a with an upperchamber 206 created by a cover 207 and plate 204 and a lower chamber 208created by plate 204 and the base 209. Each chamber has similar gears210 and 211 pivotally mounted on a common post 213 which mate with thetwo feed spur gears 116 and 124 respectfully of the previously describedfeeding means 100.

The endless spool 212 of fabric inked ribbon 192 is wound on a partiallycone-shaped hub 214 having a flange 215 extending from one end thereof.The hub 214 is pivotally mounted on a rigid upstanding post 217 in thelower chamber 208. A loop of the ribbon extends from the spool 212 innerconvolution up through an opening 216 in the separator plate 204 intoupper chamber 206-, around an upper gear stripper finger 218 and a guidepost 220, out of the upper chamber 206 and to the end of the arm 196,back into the lower chamber 208, around a lower gear stripping finger222, around a guide plate 223 and onto the periphery of the ribbon spool212. A second guide plate 221 integrally extends from the housing toprovide a ribbon storage area between guide plate 221 and guide plate223 for any excess ribbon 192 that may accrue from an unbalance of theamount of ribbon 192 pulled from the inner convolution and the amount ofribbon 192 taken up on the outer convolution. Each gear 210 and 211 hasa washer shaped hub portion 224 and 225 respectfully rigid relativethereto which extends through appropriate slots 218a and 2220 and matingstripping fingers 218 and 222 respectively. Each gear 210 and 211 alsohas a cooperating tension finger 226 and 227 which is pivotally mountedon a post 228 and 229 and is biased clockwise by a torsion spring 230and 231 for insuring proper friction between the ribbon as it comes intocontact with the gear hubs 224 and 225. When this type of ribbonequipped cartridge 1420 is installed into the machine, the upperpositively driven feeding gear 116 (FIG. 3) will cooperate with thecartridge upper chamber gear 210 while the lower frictionally drivenfeeding gear 124 will cooperate with the cartridge lower chamber gear211. Being that the upper chamber gear 210 will be incrementally fed ina clockwise direction by its feeding gear 116 and being the lowerchamber 211 will be fed counterclockwise by its feeding gear 124, whenthe cartridge 142a is installed in the typewriter. it will be seen thatthe portion of exposed ribbon 232 near the end of the arm 196, willalways be fed in response to typing actions past the print point andonto the ribbon spool periphery.

Referring now to FIG. 9, two spool-type carbon ribbon equipped cartridge142k is shown. A cartridge arm 234 is pivotally mounted on the cartridgerear wall 236 by a rivet 238 while the cartridge 142b has a separatorplate 241 for providing the cartridge 142b with an upper chamber 242created by plate 241 and a cover 243 and a lower chamber 244 created byplate 241 and a base 245. The upper chamber 242 is equipped with an arm246 which is rigidly mounted on a post 248 and which has a rigiddownward extending post 250. Post 248 is pivotally mounted in anapatured support 249 integral with the cartridge. A core 252 which has asingle pass inked ribbon such as carbon ribbon 192b, for example,wrapped around and secured thereto by suitable means such as adhesivematerial, is pivotally mounted on the post 250. The post 250 and thecore 252 cooperate to form a supply spool for the carbon ribbon 192b.

The ribbon 192/2 extends around a guide post 256 and out of the upperchamber 242 along the arm 234. Arm 234 has two notches near its left endthrough which ribbon 19211 passes. The ribbon 192b extends along the arm234 into the lower chamber 244 onto the periphery of a takeup spool ofribbon 258v The ribbon 192b has its other end secured to the hub 260 ofthe takeup spool by suitable means such as adhesive material.

The takeup hub 260 is rigid with a bottom flange gear 262 having teeth263 on the periphery thereof which is pivotally mounted on a cartridgerigid upstanding post 264. The supply spool arm 246 is biased about itspivot post 248 by a tension spring 266 interconnected between the arm246 and a cartridge rigid post 268 whereby the outer convolution of thesupply spool 254 is tensioned against the defining edges 270 of acartridge aperture 272. When the cartridge 240 is installed in themachine, the supply spool periphery will cooperate with the feedingmeans rubber friction feed roll 117 (FIG. 3) while the takeup spoolflange gear 263 will cooperate with the feed ing means gear 124. Whenthe feeding means returns to its normal position after being tiltedforward when the cartridge is installed, the diameter of its rubber feedroll 117 is such that it displaces the supply spool arm 246 slightlyclockwise against the tension of the spring .266 so that the peripheryof the supply spool of ribbon 254 is free from contacting the cartridgeaperture walls 270. Being that the upper chamber supply spool of ribbon254 will be fed in a clockwise direction by its rubber feeding roll 117and the lower chamber takeup flange gear 262 will be fedcounterclockwise by its feeding gear 124 in response to typing actions,it will be seen that the portion of exposed ribbon 274 near the endofthe arm 234 will always be fed past the print point and onto thetakeup spool 258 periphery. Being the rubber feeding roll 117 isincrementally rotated by equal amounts from the clutch 30 and being theouter convolution of the supply ribbon 254 is biased against the roll117, equal incremental lengths of the ribbon 192b is fed from the supplyspool regardless of the diameter of the ribbon outer convolution.

The ability of the present ribbon feed mechanism to auto maticallyaccept either of two different types of ribbon equipped cartridges 142aand 142b upon installation thereof provides both an improved method ofribbon installation which overcomes the problems heretofore encounteredwith other cartridge ribbon systems and an improved method of changingthe type of ribbon used.

An installed cartridge may be removed simply by pushing the lever buttonend 276 (FIG. 5) to the rear whereupon the biasing arm 160 will effectpartial ejection of the cartridge from the guide support plate forconvenient complete removal therefrom while another cartridge of adifferent ribbon type or color may be installed by a simple slidinginstallation.

In addition to these advantages, the ability of the present feedingmeans to be completely disengaged from the approaching path of thecartridge appropriate cooperating feed means until the installation ofthe cartridge is complete, provides insurance against damage of eitherthe cartridge feed parts of the machine feed parts and also insuresagainst undue tensioning of the ribbon within the cartridge.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

What is claimed is:

1. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism for a typewriter comprising:

a frame;

an incrementally operable driving means supported on the frame;

a tiltable first drive member incrementally rotatable by the drivingmeans;

a tiltable second drive member coaxial with said first drive memberincrementally rotatable by the driving means,

means for supporting the tiltable first and second drive members coupledto the frame;

a bracket mounted on the frame;

a ribbon cartridge removably supported on the bracket;

a ribbon;

a supply spool supported in the cartridge having a supply of the ribbon,spirally wound thereon, engageable with the first drive member forfeeding ribbon from the supply spool in response to incrementaloperations of the driving means when the cartridge is positioned on thebracket; and

a takeup spool supported in the cartridge having means engageable withthe second drive member for feeding ribbon on to the takeup spool inresponse to the incremental operations of the driving means to take upthe ribbon fed from the spool.

2. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein thespirally wound ribbon on the supply spool is engageable with the firstdrive member.

3. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein thesupply spool is supported in the cartridge by a movably mounted arm forcarrying the outer convolution of the spirally wound ribbon intoengagement with the first drive member for feeding equal incrementallengths of ribbon regardless ofthe diameter ofthe ribbon outerconvolution.

4. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 3 furthercomprising spring means for biasing the outer convolution of thespirally wound ribbon into engagement with the first drive member.

5. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein thesupply spool is supported by an arm pivotally mounted in the cartridge,a post carried by the arm and spring means connected to the arm forbiasing the outer convolutions of the spirally wound ribbon intoengagement with the first drive member.

6. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein thedriving means includes a power source; and, a friction clutch coupled tothe power source and to the second drive member for taking up the amountof ribbon feed by the first drive member.

7. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein thedriving means includes a power source; and, a friction clutch coupled tothe power source and to the second drive member for incrementallyrotating the second drive member relative to the first drive member formaintaining a predetermined amount of tension on the ribbon.

8. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein thedriving means includes connecting means for incrementally rotating thesecond drive member in a direction opposite the first drive member.

9. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein thedriving means includes positive drive means for incrementally rotatingthe first drive member and friction drive means for incrementallyrotating the second drive member.

10. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein thedriving means includes connecting means for incrementally rotating thesecond drive member simultaneously with the first drive member.

11. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism for a typewriter comprising:

a frame;

a power source;

an incremental driving means supported on the frame and operable by thepower source;

feed means incrementally operable by the driving means;

means for supporting said feed means, coupled to the frame, wherein thefeed means are tiltable from an effective position to an ineffectiveposition;

a lever operatively connected to the feed means and operable from afirst position to a second position for displacing the feed means fromthe effective position to the ineffective position;

a ribbon; a cartridge having a ribbon supply means supporting the ribbontherein; and abutment means carried by the cartridge for engaging andmoving the lever from the first position to the second position todisplace the feed means from the effective position to the ineffectiveposition during installation of the cartridge into the typewriter; and,spring means for returning the lever to the first position and the feedmeans to the effective position for engagement with the ribbon supplymeans for feeding the ribbon therefrom. 12. A cartridge ribbon feedmechanism as defined in claim 11 wherein the feed means includes a shaftcoupled to the driving means.

13. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 12 wherein themeans for supporting said feed means includes a first support rigidlymounted on the frame and a second support slideably mounted on theframe.

14. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 11 wherein thecartridge further includes a ribbon takeup means and wherein the feedmeans includes a first driven means for feeding the ribbon from theribbon supply means and a second driven means for feeding the ribbon onto the ribbon takeup means.

[5. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 14 wherein thedriving means includes connecting means for incrementally rotating thesecond driven means in a direction opposite the first driven means.

16. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 14 wherein thefirst driven means and the second driven means have a common axis ofrotation.

17. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 14 wherein thedriving means includes a friction clutch for incrementally rotating oneofthe driven means for maintaining a predetermined amount oftension onthe ribbon.

18. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 11 wherein theribbon supply means includes a support member movably mounted in thecartridge for carrying the ribbon supply means into engagement with thefeed means for feeding equal incremental lengths of ribbon in responseto each incremental operation ofthe driving means.

19. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 18 furthercomprising spring means for biasing the ribbon supply means intoengagement with the feed means.

20. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 11 wherein theribbon supply means includes a spool rotatably supported in thecartridge having an endless ribbon mounted thereon, a first feed rollerrotatably supported in the cartridge and incrementally rotatable by thefeed means for drawing the ribbon from the inner convolutions of theendless ribbon, and a second feed roller rotatably supported in thecartridge and incrementally rotatable by the feed means for winding theribbon on to the outer convolution of the endless ribbon.

21. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 11 wherein thelever and the cartridge abutment means form a rest position forretaining the cartridge in the installed position.

22. A typewriter ribbon cartridge comprising; a housing having upper andlower walls and a sidewall; an aperture in said sidewall; a supportmember, pivotally mounted in said housing about a first axis ofrotation;

a supply spool mounted on said support member and having a second axisof rotation,

a ribbon supported on the supply spool;

means for biasing the support member in a predetermined directionwhereby the outer convolution of said ribbon on said supply spool ismaintained in a position adjacent said aperture for cooperation with anexternal drive means for incrementally driving said ribbon past a printpoint in a typewriter.

23. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 22 wherein the means forbiasing include a coil spring coupled to the housing.

24. A ribbon cartridge comprising:

a housing;

with said first rotatable member and being rotatable independcntlythereof to pull the ribbon fed from the first rotatable member tomaintain a predetermined ribbon tautness therebetween; and

means supported in the housing for storing ribbon between the secondrotatable member and the outer convolution of the ribbon, therebyenabling the spool rotation caused by the first rotatable member to takeup the ribbon on the outer convolution of the ribbon.

1. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism for a typewriter comprising: aframe; an incrementally operable driving means supported on the frame; atiltable first drive member incrementally rotatable by the drivingmeans; a tiltable second drive member coaxial with said first drivemember incrementally rotatable by the driving means, means forsupporting the tiltable first and second drive members coupled to theframe; a bracket mounted on the frame; a ribbon cartridge removablysupported on the bracket; a ribbon; a supply spool supported in thecartridge having a supply of the ribbon, spirally wound thereon,engageable with the first drive member for feeding ribbon from thesupply spool in response to incremental operations of the driving meanswhen the cartridge is positioned on the bracket; and a takeup spoolsupported in the cartridge having means engageable with the second drivemember for feeding ribbon on to the takeup spool in response to theincremental operations of the driving means to take up the ribbon fedfrom the spool.
 2. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim1 wherein the spirally wound ribbon on the supply spool is engageablewith the first drive member.
 3. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism asdefined in claim 2 wherein the supply spool is supported in thecartridge by a movably mounted arm for carrying the outer convolution ofthe spirally wound ribbon into engagement with the first drive memberfor feeding equal incremental lengths of ribbon regardless of thediameter of the ribbon outer convolution.
 4. A cartridge ribbon feedmechanism as defined in claim 3 further comprising spring means forbiasing the outer convolution of the spirally wound ribbon intoengagement with the first drive member.
 5. A cartridge ribbon feedmechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein the supply spool is supported byan arm pivotally mounted in the cartridge, a post carried by the arm andspring means connected to the arm for biasing the outer convolutions ofthe spirally wound ribboN into engagement with the first drive member.6. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein thedriving means includes a power source; and, a friction clutch coupled tothe power source and to the second drive member for taking up the amountof ribbon feed by the first drive member.
 7. A cartridge ribbon feedmechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein the driving means includes apower source; and, a friction clutch coupled to the power source and tothe second drive member for incrementally rotating the second drivemember relative to the first drive member for maintaining apredetermined amount of tension on the ribbon.
 8. A cartridge ribbonfeed mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein the driving means includesconnecting means for incrementally rotating the second drive member in adirection opposite the first drive member.
 9. A cartridge ribbon feedmechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein the driving means includespositive drive means for incrementally rotating the first drive memberand friction drive means for incrementally rotating the second drivemember.
 10. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 1wherein the driving means includes connecting means for incrementallyrotating the second drive member simultaneously with the first drivemember.
 11. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism for a typewritercomprising: a frame; a power source; an incremental driving meanssupported on the frame and operable by the power source; feed meansincrementally operable by the driving means; means for supporting saidfeed means, coupled to the frame, wherein the feed means are tiltablefrom an effective position to an ineffective position; a leveroperatively connected to the feed means and operable from a firstposition to a second position for displacing the feed means from theeffective position to the ineffective position; a ribbon; a cartridgehaving a ribbon supply means supporting the ribbon therein; and abutmentmeans carried by the cartridge for engaging and moving the lever fromthe first position to the second position to displace the feed meansfrom the effective position to the ineffective position duringinstallation of the cartridge into the typewriter; and, spring means forreturning the lever to the first position and the feed means to theeffective position for engagement with the ribbon supply means forfeeding the ribbon therefrom.
 12. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism asdefined in claim 11 wherein the feed means includes a shaft coupled tothe driving means.
 13. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined inclaim 12 wherein the means for supporting said feed means includes afirst support rigidly mounted on the frame and a second supportslideably mounted on the frame.
 14. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism asdefined in claim 11 wherein the cartridge further includes a ribbontakeup means and wherein the feed means includes a first driven meansfor feeding the ribbon from the ribbon supply means and a second drivenmeans for feeding the ribbon on to the ribbon takeup means.
 15. Acartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 14 wherein thedriving means includes connecting means for incrementally rotating thesecond driven means in a direction opposite the first driven means. 16.A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 14 wherein thefirst driven means and the second driven means have a common axis ofrotation.
 17. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 14wherein the driving means includes a friction clutch for incrementallyrotating one of the driven means for maintaining a predetermined amountof tension on the ribbon.
 18. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism asdefined in claim 11 wherein the ribbon supply means includes a supportmember movably mounted in the cartridge for carrying the ribbon supplymeans into engagement with the feed means for feeding equal incrementallengths of ribbon in response to each increMental operation of thedriving means.
 19. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim18 further comprising spring means for biasing the ribbon supply meansinto engagement with the feed means.
 20. A cartridge ribbon feedmechanism as defined in claim 11 wherein the ribbon supply meansincludes a spool rotatably supported in the cartridge having an endlessribbon mounted thereon, a first feed roller rotatably supported in thecartridge and incrementally rotatable by the feed means for drawing theribbon from the inner convolutions of the endless ribbon, and a secondfeed roller rotatably supported in the cartridge and incrementallyrotatable by the feed means for winding the ribbon on to the outerconvolution of the endless ribbon.
 21. A cartridge ribbon feed mechanismas defined in claim 11 wherein the lever and the cartridge abutmentmeans form a rest position for retaining the cartridge in the installedposition.
 22. A typewriter ribbon cartridge comprising; a housing havingupper and lower walls and a sidewall; an aperture in said sidewall; asupport member, pivotally mounted in said housing about a first axis ofrotation; a supply spool mounted on said support member and having asecond axis of rotation, a ribbon supported on the supply spool; meansfor biasing the support member in a predetermined direction whereby theouter convolution of said ribbon on said supply spool is maintained in aposition adjacent said aperture for cooperation with an external drivemeans for incrementally driving said ribbon past a print point in atypewriter.
 23. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 22 wherein themeans for biasing include a coil spring coupled to the housing.
 24. Aribbon cartridge comprising: a housing; a spool rotatably supported inthe housing; an endless ribbon spirally wound on the spool having aninner and outer convolution; a first rotatable member supported in thehousing and operable to pull the ribbon from the inner convolution forfeeding ribbon therefrom and for rotating the spool; means for guidingthe ribbon from the first rotatable member to the outside of the housingand return to the inside thereof; a second rotatable member supported inthe housing coaxial with said first rotatable member and being rotatableindependently thereof to pull the ribbon fed from the first rotatablemember to maintain a predetermined ribbon tautness therebetween; andmeans supported in the housing for storing ribbon between the secondrotatable member and the outer convolution of the ribbon, therebyenabling the spool rotation caused by the first rotatable member to takeup the ribbon on the outer convolution of the ribbon.